Austin Roleplaying Experience Tiny Minotaur Opens Games, Food, and Beers | Eater Austin
"Founded by Dana Bauerle-McKnight as a late-2020 gaming-and-dining pop-up, this immersive half-live-action roleplay, half-experiential dining installation brings character-driven fantasy tabletop RPGs into reality via an outdoor bar and performance space. Guests assume characters, receive standard adventuring provisions (drinks, bread, and pickles), and work through quests that culminate in simulated combat using giant wooden 20-sided dice while interacting with a troupe of somewhat-scripted hosts led by the Orcish character Oakda. Built on local collaborations—most notably a hot honey-and-garlic sourdough by Tyler Carpenter of Abby Jane Bakeshop and partnerships with neighborhood bars that hid quest items—the project grew into a crowdfunded permanent concept nicknamed Big Tiny. The new East Austin location will host large-scale roleplaying sessions, workshops on costume design and makeup, a rotating food-truck co-op that waives typical rental fees for participating chefs, and a bread-and-beer program with Abby Jane and Central Machine Works to encourage experimental small-batch offerings." - Matthew Monagle
